First DAT Attempt Done

[MasterMikeSC]

And I am going to retake as my time management wasn't quite what I wanted it to be on some sections, should I solely use CrackDAT to get my timing down and use Destroyer and Cliffs/Chads etc to cover material?

 

[Soleus715]

And I am going to retake as my time management wasn't quite what I wanted it to be on some sections, should I solely use CrackDAT to get my timing down and use Destroyer and Cliffs/Chads etc to cover material?

what sections did you have a timing trouble on?


I honestly think cliffs/destroyer is NOT enough for bio. you're gonna want to find feralis' notes. Also, look up the ADA dat examinee guide for exactly what topics are covered and fill in the gaps by looking up wikipedia or youtube videos.

Chad's is gonna be more than enough for GC and OC. Some people have used only chads and scored 30 on both sections.

I'd recommend getting bootcamp based on how close the questions are to the actual dat.
I've heard people getting Qvault with bootcamp or as an alternative. I'd at least get one of these two.


It'd be pretty good to refer to people's breakdowns as well to get a general idea of what's worked for others.

This thread has a LOT of breakdowns/guides:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=992975

Good luck!

 

[Minion]

what sections did you have a timing trouble on?


I honestly think cliffs/destroyer is NOT enough for bio. you're gonna want to find feralis' notes. Also, look up the ADA dat examinee guide for exactly what topics are covered and fill in the gaps by looking up wikipedia or youtube videos.

Chad's is gonna be more than enough for GC and OC. Some people have used only chads and scored 30 on both sections.

I'd recommend getting bootcamp based on how close the questions are to the actual dat.
I've heard people getting Qvault with bootcamp or as an alternative. I'd at least get one of these two.


It'd be pretty good to refer to people's breakdowns as well to get a general idea of what's worked for others.

This thread has a LOT of breakdowns/guides:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=992975

Good luck!

I have to disagree, I think cliff is just enough to get at least a 20+ on DAT paired with qvault and bootcamp.

 

[MasterMikeSC]

what sections did you have a timing trouble on?


I honestly think cliffs/destroyer is NOT enough for bio. you're gonna want to find feralis' notes. Also, look up the ADA dat examinee guide for exactly what topics are covered and fill in the gaps by looking up wikipedia or youtube videos.

Chad's is gonna be more than enough for GC and OC. Some people have used only chads and scored 30 on both sections.

I'd recommend getting bootcamp based on how close the questions are to the actual dat.
I've heard people getting Qvault with bootcamp or as an alternative. I'd at least get one of these two.


It'd be pretty good to refer to people's breakdowns as well to get a general idea of what's worked for others.

This thread has a LOT of breakdowns/guides:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=992975

Good luck!

Had trouble with timing on my sciences (hit a random answer and next for about last 10-15 in OC as time expired) and PAT (got to like the middle of cube counting with 5-10 mins left, had to do the same). RC and QR I got 22s on and didnt study at all for and had about 10-15 mins left after finishing each of those sections.

Definitely getting a sub. To chad's asap and getting ferali's notes, heard good things about both.

 

[Soleus715]

I have to disagree, I think cliff is just enough to get at least a 20+ on DAT paired with qvault and bootcamp.

Haha, I actually completely agree with your statement. I should have added, "if your trying to aim for a perfect score". Which is something I really really need XD.

Had trouble with timing on my sciences (hit a random answer and next for about last 10-15 in OC as time expired) and PAT (got to like the middle of cube counting with 5-10 mins left, had to do the same). RC and QR I got 22s on and didnt study at all for and had about 10-15 mins left after finishing each of those sections.

Definitely getting a sub. To chad's asap and getting ferali's notes, heard good things about both.

Nice RC and QR!

Have you been using the 'mark' feature? I feel like marking hard ones and going at them at the end ensures that you don't miss easy questions before time runs out.

More importantly, what was the cause of the timing issue? Where you stuck on ridiculous wording or because of something you didn't cover/memorize?

 

[Toadesque]

I read through Cliff's once but man that book is dry, I would fall asleep reading it. I've just been reading through Feralis' notes over and over the past few months. If you don't have a decent bio background already his notes can throw you off though.

 

[yggdrasila]

I read through Cliff's once but man that book is dry, I would fall asleep reading it. I've just been reading through Feralis' notes over and over the past few months. If you don't have a decent bio background already his notes can throw you off though.

IA by God I did try to push through cliffs but I would fall asleep at my desk. Feralis notes are great I'm on my 3rd run. I do like a physical copy though so I went through them once edited it a bit for my understanding, spaced it more for additional edits and printed it. Now I add notes of clarification as I read or write in mnemonics from other sources, draws doodles of the figured described w/e I feel like the active editing makes me remember it better.

Did you take the 2009 practice test the first time around OP? I ran out of time half wayish through cube counting also.

Guess mark and go if you're spending more time than necessary on a question I guess. Though at least on the practice test going back to the marked q's was kinda clunky

 

[MasterMikeSC]

Haha, I actually completely agree with your statement. I should have added, "if your trying to aim for a perfect score". Which is something I really really need XD.






Nice RC and QR!

Have you been using the 'mark' feature? I feel like marking hard ones and going at them at the end ensures that you don't miss easy questions before time runs out.

More importantly, what was the cause of the timing issue? Where you stuck on ridiculous wording or because of something you didn't cover/memorize?

I used the mark feature, still kinda blew it. I got hung up on questions, whether I didn't read them correctly the first time or just stumbled over the wording/answers. I obviously calmed down after my break, I just have to get the timing for before my break down haha.

I will be looking up Ferali's notes, as I DO need quite the high DAT score to be considered as my gpa is on the low end, the 18AA I got idk if I will make it anywhere haha.

 

[MasterMikeSC]

IA by God I did try to push through cliffs but I would fall asleep at my desk. Feralis notes are great I'm on my 3rd run. I do like a physical copy though so I went through them once edited it a bit for my understanding, spaced it more for additional edits and printed it. Now I add notes of clarification as I read or write in mnemonics from other sources, draws doodles of the figured described w/e I feel like the active editing makes me remember it better.

Did you take the 2009 practice test the first time around OP? I ran out of time half wayish through cube counting also.

Guess mark and go if you're spending more time than necessary on a question I guess. Though at least on the practice test going back to the marked q's was kinda clunky

Glad to know I'm not the only one who consistently fell asleep reading cliff's! I didn't have much prep for this test to be honest, I had to have another back surgery at the end of July and probably only was able to study 3 weeks. That being said, I didn't get to a lot of practice tests and I know that's why my timing was off in the sciences/PAT, once I get back studying again, it shouldn't be hard.

PAT fr some reason reallllly ate me up, I was doing well in crackDAT and then took the test and ill be damned if I spent too much time n didn't make it, the keyholes and hole punches were very difficult at times, and I thought I had those two down.

Oh well, overall I think I did pretty well given circumstances, and hopefully can only go up from here.

 

[Soleus715]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who consistently fell asleep reading cliff's! I didn't have much prep for this test to be honest, I had to have another back surgery at the end of July and probably only was able to study 3 weeks. That being said, I didn't get to a lot of practice tests and I know that's why my timing was off in the sciences/PAT, once I get back studying again, it shouldn't be hard.

PAT fr some reason reallllly ate me up, I was doing well in crackDAT and then took the test and ill be damned if I spent too much time n didn't make it, the keyholes and hole punches were very difficult at times, and I thought I had those two down.

Oh well, overall I think I did pretty well given circumstances, and hopefully can only go up from here.

Barron's 3rd edition is a great read compared to cliffs. I'm reading them both as some sections are more detailed in one than the other. I read barrons first then i skim over cliffs looking for any additional info.

There are also premade flashcards of cliff's bio in the forums under bangity's notes thread.

1/3 hole punches are fun haha. but with the Line of Symmetry method, I think you'll never get those wrong ever again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ud0ZX0eEFA


great mentality btw. I think that mentality in itself has you set for improvement 😀

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I'm starting to think I'm the only person around here who hasn't actually finished reading my notes...

 

[LazyP]

I'm starting to think I'm the only person around here who hasn't actually finished reading my notes...

lol I am there with ya I just started reading them, exam in 2 weeks